The Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and technology, Prof. William Otoo Ellis, has commissioned a new French language laboratory at the premises of the new examination hall complex.

The center christened as ‘maison de francaise’ is one of the many projects being undertaken by the French department to enhance the study of French in the university.
The state of the art facility comprises of a language laboratory with computers and microphones, a francophone library and a study abroad information desk with requisite information to help students interested in studying overseas.
Prof. William Otoo Ellis was the chairman of the occasion. In his keynote address, the Head of the French Institute in Ghana, Mr. Arnaud Dornon, entreated students and staff alike to take this opportunity to enhance their French speaking skills.

He noted that the center will be useless if maximum use is made of its services.
He said, “A library is only called a library when people come, read, learn or borrow books not because there are books inside, the activities creates the attention, that is why I would call on all the students to stop by, ask, enquire and use the facility that Knust offers them, both students and staff….”

The Head of Department of Modern languages, Dr. Lebeney Tettey also indicated that the project was just the first phase and announced plans to run proficiency courses for members of the university community.
“….I dare say that we will be able to rub shoulders with Alliance francaise in the running of proficiency courses in French to a larger public but this in the spirit of Francophonie and true friendship.”, Mrs Lebeney added.

The Provost of the college of Arts and Social Sciences, Prof. S.I.K. Afrane, who was also in attendance, bemoaned the little attention given to French study by our educational system. He further entreated the department to use the facility well, maintain it and expand it in the future to accommodate a larger population.

The plaintiffs in the case involving the failure of KATANGA Hall to vote in the just ended SRC elections have agreed to discontinue the legal case against the SRC and its Electoral commission.

In a letter dated May 10, 2012 copied to Focus fm, signed by the Registrar of the Kumasi Circuit Court, it states that the Plaintiffs: Odame Sarpong, Chairman of the KATANGA Hall Judicial Committee; Amofa Kofi Atta, an affiliate of KATANGA Hall; and Ato Assan Jnr, also an affiliate of the KATANGA Hall have decided to discontinue the suit filed against the Defendants: Students Representative Council (SRC); and the Electoral Commission of the SRC.

Responding to issues leading to the withdrawal in an interview with Bernard Buachi on Focus fm, the SRC President, Mr Philemon Laar noted that, “it is time to think about the solidarity of the student front and this is not a victory for the plaintiffs nor the SRC but a victory of common sense which tells us to solidify the student front and be united than ever before.”

The SRC President also advised the new executives to comply with the SRC constitution and always champion the welfare of students.

Meanwhile the Chairman of the KATANGA Hall Judicial Committee, Odame Sarpong, tells Focus News , there will be no further arbitrations but still believes the SRC constitution has been breached by the SRC EC in refusing first year KATANGEES from voting.

According to him, they decided to withdraw the case because of the consequences in delaying the handing over and for the interest of the greater student body advising that, “students of the university are intelligent and should not be taken for granted. When you try to put in your own personal interest and gains ahead of the constitution that you have sworn to defend, then you should know that, there are people there who will not take it and will always take the matter up.”

The Graduate Students Association of Ghana (GRASAG) has expressed anger about the failure of government to pay thesis and bursary grant to members of the association and has thus hinted on a nationwide demonstration if the issue is not resolved.

GRASAG said while it is grateful to the government for the 100 percent increase this year, members wish to register their displeasure about the delay in releasing the money.

The thesis and bursary grant is a fund allocated by government to lessen the financial burden of post – graduate students in the country but the association has questioned if the objective is being achieved, as most students struggle to complete their projects due to the recurring delay in the payment of the grant over the years.

At a press conference held at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi on Thursday April 27, the National President of GRASAG, Dr. Samuel Bert Boadi – Kusi noted that GRASAG has engaged in several dialogue and negotiations which have all proved futile and contrary to the assurance by the Minister of State in charge of scholarships at the Office of the President, Hon. Kwadjo T. Likpalimor, that the payment will be made by Friday April 20, 2012; the monies have still not been released.

He explained that the academic year of the public universities in Ghana ends by May, 2012 and the late arrival of the money hampers the research work undertaken by the students.

“It has a lot of serious implications for the graduate student. Some go to the extent of having to borrow monies in order to collect data from the field. If we are interested in nation building, we need to invest in the graduate student and the quality of research,” Dr. Boadi – Kusi added.

According to the GRASAG President, they have been left with no choice than to speak the only language which government understands.

“GRASAG hereby serves notice of its intended plan of action emanating from an emergency senate meeting as follows: 2nd May 2012, we will have a final press interaction on the matter; 7th May 2012, a demonstration to be staged in Accra which will be entitled “ YABRε DEMONSTRATION”. Until the thesis and bursary grants are paid, we will not relent in our efforts to use every legitimate means at our disposal to get what is due us”.

The theme permeating all presentations at this year’s ‘Save the Frogs Day’ at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is the need for the protection of endangered amphibian species, some of which are only found in Ghana.

The programme took place on April 28, 2012 and was celebrated simultaneously by 36 countries worldwide.

Organised by Save the Frogs International, a non-governmental organisation, the Vice President, Jonathan Toursan, enunciated that the organisation was founded to solve the global environmental problem of amphibian extinction. He says amphibians are important bio-indicators which need to be protected and cautioned against the use of Atrasine which destroys the existence of frogs.

In a speech about endangered frog species in Ghana, Co-founder and Executive Director of Save the Frogs Ghana, Mr. Gilbert Adum, emphasised the need to protect amphibians especially frogs. He added that, “globally 2000 amphibian species are threatened with extinction and it has been estimated that 32% of Ghana’s amphibians may not survive this century”.

The Ecologist noted that 5 endemic species of frogs are recorded to exist only in Ghana and cautioned against the destruction of the Atiwa Forest which has the Togo Slippery Frog , the closest relative to the largest frog in the world. Save the Frogs Ghana is therefore appealing to government to convert the Atiwa Forest into a national park.

“It is called the Togo Slippery Frog and the largest population in the whole world is found at the Atiwa Hills. Now, they are trying to mine the place for bauxite which will lead to the loss of these frogs. We have collected signatures of over 200 people and will have presentations at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and Forestry Commission. We want them to understand that, it is important to create Atiwa Forest into a national park,” the Frog expert added.

The Chairman for the Board of Directors, Save the Frogs Ghana, Prof. William Oduro also stated that KNUST has started the movement to protect frogs and their habitat. He says the long term goal is to affect positive change in policies that will be beneficial to the environment and humans. He was however quick to add that the main challenge of the organisation has been with the mindset of some Ghanaians in accepting the importance of frogs and conserving their habitat.

In some parts of the Northern Region, frogs are harvested for food and serves as a source of income to the hunters. As parts of efforts to discourage over harvesting of these frogs, Save the Frogs Ghana is embarking on a bee – keeping training programme to provide alternative livelihood for these people.

The Bee – keeping Trainer for the organisation, Ms Jacqueline Kumadoh, disclosed that the programme has already started in the Northern Region and in Atiwa and will soon be expanded to other areas.

We are in the twenty first century and some of the key concepts associated with this period are civilization and development .If someone behaves in a way that is contrary to a kind of common behaviour in an area, people say, the person is behaving in a weird manner and that, the fellow is not receptive to the changing trends of the world. Usually, if people do not put up behaviours that are expected of them to bring about improvements in their lives, we say, they are not ready to develop. Development is a continuing process. It is like climbing a ladder: it starts from one level and moves to the other. It should not be stagnant; there should be an improvement every time.

When we are making references to past events, we mostly use words like barbaric, colloquial, outmoded, uncivilized, uncouth, blindfolded and a lot of negative indicators to describe the actions of our forefathers. Some local languages have some translations to describe them as ignorant, gullible and malleable among others. Others try to erase their feature as being humans and compared them with some lesser entities.

Mostly, we blame our forefathers probably because of the stories (histories) we have heard about them.Why do we always count on the negativeness of the past generations but do not want to know about some of the creativeness they exhibited? They designed wonderful, life-touching and inspirational songs in various forms without violating any of the integral rules relating to language. They also had amazing historic records showing their might and capabilities. Mind-blowing and creative folktales were not left out coupled with proverbs, idiom and figurative expressions. They had a lot of moral lessons to learn from. They left all these for posterity to help straighten the lives of their descendants.

Generations coming after them are only beneficiaries of the innovative exploits of those ‘we’ claim were not intelligent and civilized like we are. What have we done for ourselves and what are we leaving behind for posterity? How do we feel when a fellow human being is able to come out with inventions which we rely on to give meanings to our livelihood? What perceptions will such people have about us? Since we are not ready to take risk and more importantly, we do not wish to explore, what would have happened if this generation had come into existence before the older generation?What legacy would have been left behind for ‘our’ descendants? Some people have laid the foundation for us making life easier. Instead of us to build upon it to make life more enjoyable, we do not do that. Inferiority complex, selfishness, bribery and corruption, laziness, lack of creativity and other related ill-thoughts constitute the bulk of our cognizance.Africa is endowed with a lot of natural resources more than any other continent but Africans do not see the significance of this and even say, Africans are cursed. How do you feel when raw materials are exported out of Africa cheaply (the buyers even determine the prices) and are transformed into finished products which are imported into African countries at higher prices where the profits accruing from the sales of these finished products are used to develop their countries? We feel there is nothing wrong. We are experts in consuming than in producing. What a shame. How many times do we hear our political leaders, media practitioners, traditional rulers, priests among others entreating Africans to free ourselves from neo-colonialism?

Apart from raw materials, those developed countries also receive imports but they do not feel relaxed. They always wish to explore more into such areas to be able to produce those products to help reduce their spending on imports and to build their countries. Self-redundancy has made us unaware of our voguish potentials, skills and talents. We have chosen to reject the natural gifts of nature and have refused to move forward in life. One may perhaps say we are moving into the civilization years as every day passes by. This may be wrong and may be correct at the same time depending on the approach that a country is taking towards its development.

Our predecessors whom we mostly underrate their level of intelligence, opted for their own products and were willing to improve upon them. They also tried to be innovative as much as possible in all facets of life. Probably, their level of success never reached its peak. Think of how they cured sicknesses and ailments, how they got their names and once again how they came about with proverbs, idioms and its related forms.

If we claim that we are in the twenty first century and for that matter, we are civilized, then our pragmatic steps towards development should be unveiled and should reflect in the way we think and act. As Africans, we should add value to ourselves, realize our potentials, utilize our resources effectively, and should be ready to leave footprints behind. When this happens, other people across the world will have respect for Africans. In that regard, Africa will never be belittled in any way.

It is of no significance to boast of someone’s past achievements or depending solely on what other people have done. Productive things should come out of us and with this; we can boast of something and be proud of ourselves. Total self-sufficiency is unattainable.Therefore; we should be inter-dependent but should not be dependent on other nations. If we feel we are in the ‘computer age’ and therefore we should drive in‘nice cars’, have exotic drinks, wear fine and fashionable clothing, eat continental dishes among others, then we should also learn how to come about with such products or we should invent other things that will be exclusive to us to be used locally and some for export to improve our economies. We should further explore other fields of study to avoid unpleasant and pathetic situations where high profile contracts like extraction of oil and other construction works are left in the hands of foreigners. The proceeds accruing from such contracts are used in developing their respective countries. When Africans have such opportunities, the profits will still remain in the country thereby helping to develop our own countries.

Whatever the mind can conceive, man can achieve, therefore, let us work assiduously with determination and perseverance. Having this in mind, we have met success half-way.

The Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has cautioned student leaders to behave themselves with regards to how they manage the affairs of the respective institutions they represent. He was much particular about how some SRC executivesembezzle funds which bring about delays in policy implementation.

He made this assertion on Friday, April 13, when speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the first phase of the KNUST SRC Hostel which has been named after him.

He bemoaned the practice whereby some student leaders take up leadership positions as platforms to enrich themselves.

The Asantehene added that, the SRC Hostel project which kick started in 1999, was to be completed in a period of about two or three years but has taken about thirteen years before nearing completion. He attributed this to the fact that, most student leaders embezzle funds.

He said “along the line, I heard about some SRC members messing up with the money and all that: during the interim. I felt like from 1999/2000 up to this stage, when it was started, the old idea was for us to have completed this within a period of about two years or three years and it did continue to about thirteen years for us to be commissioning this. I still will say, I appreciate the contribution of students but we have to caution ourselves that, we come to school to discipline ourselves and to learn the trade of discipline and therefore, when we are charged with the responsibilities, we have to behave ourselves regarding how we manage our affairs.”

He further added that, he is aware of the difficulties students go through and gave the assurance that, all efforts will be made to ensure that, those issues are addressed accordingly. The Asantehene admitted that KNUST can much up to any university in the world and therefore, he deems it necessary to put up every effort to support the University.

On his part, the Vice Chancellor of KNUST, Prof. William Otoo Ellis, stated that the university has rules which governs it and will be enforced to the latter .He added that, every student’s main aim is to study therefore, any student who falls foul to the regulation of the university will be punished accordingly.

The Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr has expressed displeasure about the execution of the ongoing biometric voter’s registration exercise.
The Electoral Commission is compiling a new electoral register to be used during the December 2012 polls and the exercise is slated for March 24 to May 5.
Speaking in an interview with Nana Jantuah on Focus fm, a Kumasi based radio station on Wednesday March 29, the renowned journalist said he finds it worrying that new biometric machines could break down on the first day of the registration exercise. According to him, the registration exercise will take place within forty days so the machines could be repaired in time but the elections will be conducted within twelve hours and doubts how the elections will be successful if the situation recurs.
“These are brand new machines breaking down on the first day; we are going to use the same machines eight months from now when they will be much older; what is going to happen then if we are to use them in the next elections?”
Mr. Pratt also noted that vigilance on the part of political parties is very low as there are no agents at the polling stations to police the registration process, adding that, “it must be worrying because Dr. Afari Gyan has said that the electoral commission is not in a position to guarantee all by itself a free and fair election and that it is only the vigilance of the political parties and the general population which can guarantee that. It is not possible to vouch for the integrity of the over 40,000 people who will be employed for this programme so you should expect a certain level of vigilance from the political parties and I don’t see that,” he lamented.
The senior journalist blamed the electoral commission for ineffective communication of the schedules for the registration exercise, a situation which has made it impossible for him to register. According to him, information should be provided at all polling stations about the period allocated for the exercise to be conducted at those stations.
He also thinks the commission should have employed people who can type faster as the current officials cannot type fast enough thereby slowing the whole process.